Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A method for measuring switching time of an Ethernet ring network, comprising: synchronizing local time of each node in the Ethernet ring network; when a switching occurs in the Ethernet ring network, each node recording its own start time of the switching and end time of the switching; and comparing to obtain a maximum end time of the switching and a minimum start time of the switching among all nodes, and calculating a difference between the maximum end time of the switching and the minimum start time of the switching to serve as the switching time of the Ethernet ring network.
Ethernet ring networks are used for high-availability data transmission, where rapid switching is critical to minimize downtime. However, accurately measuring switching time across distributed nodes is challenging due to unsynchronized clocks and asynchronous event detection. This invention provides a method to precisely measure the switching time of an Ethernet ring network by synchronizing local time across all nodes. When a switching event occurs, each node records its own start and end times of the switching process. The system then compares these timestamps across all nodes to identify the maximum end time and the minimum start time. The difference between these two values is calculated to determine the total switching time of the network. This approach ensures accurate measurement by accounting for variations in event detection and processing delays across different nodes, enabling network operators to assess and optimize switching performance. The method is particularly useful for fault detection, recovery, and performance monitoring in ring-based Ethernet networks.
2. The method for measuring switching time of an Ethernet ring network according to claim 1 , wherein the step of synchronizing the local time of each node in the Ethernet ring network comprises: in the Ethernet ring network, a node having a blocked port sending a synchronization protocol frame, which carries a current local time, to other nodes except the node itself; after receiving the synchronization protocol frame, said other nodes setting their respective local time as the time in the synchronization protocol frame.
To synchronize the local time of each node in the Ethernet ring network, a node with a blocked port sends a synchronization protocol frame containing its current local time to all other nodes. Upon receiving this frame, the other nodes set their own local time to the time specified in the synchronization protocol frame. This ensures all nodes have a consistent time base for measuring the switching time. This is an enhancement of "A method to measure the switching time of an Ethernet ring network. First, the local time of each node in the network is synchronized. When a switching event happens, each node records its own start and end time of the switching. Finally, these recorded times are compared to find the maximum end time and the minimum start time across all nodes. The difference between these maximum and minimum times is then calculated and used as the switching time for the entire Ethernet ring network."
3. The method for measuring switching time of an Ethernet ring network according to claim 2 , wherein the method for the node having a blocked port to send the synchronization protocol frame to other nodes comprises: the node having a blocked port sending the synchronization protocol frame to said other nodes periodically and continuously; or the node having a blocked port sending the synchronization protocol frame to said other nodes according to a first period at first, and then sending the synchronization protocol frame to said other nodes continuously according to a second period until the port is in an opened state.
The node with a blocked port sends the synchronization protocol frame in one of two ways: either periodically and continuously to other nodes, or initially according to a first, shorter period, and then continuously according to a second, longer period until the port becomes unblocked. This builds upon "To synchronize the local time of each node in the Ethernet ring network, a node with a blocked port sends a synchronization protocol frame containing its current local time to all other nodes. Upon receiving this frame, the other nodes set their own local time to the time specified in the synchronization protocol frame. This ensures all nodes have a consistent time base for measuring the switching time. This is an enhancement of 'A method to measure the switching time of an Ethernet ring network. First, the local time of each node in the network is synchronized. When a switching event happens, each node records its own start and end time of the switching. Finally, these recorded times are compared to find the maximum end time and the minimum start time across all nodes. The difference between these maximum and minimum times is then calculated and used as the switching time for the entire Ethernet ring network.'"
4. The method for measuring switching time of an Ethernet ring network according to claim 3 , wherein the first period is shorter than the second period.
In the synchronization process from the previous claim, the first period (used initially for sending synchronization frames) is shorter than the second period (used for continuous sending until the port is unblocked). This builds on "The node with a blocked port sends the synchronization protocol frame in one of two ways: either periodically and continuously to other nodes, or initially according to a first, shorter period, and then continuously according to a second, longer period until the port becomes unblocked. This builds upon 'To synchronize the local time of each node in the Ethernet ring network, a node with a blocked port sends a synchronization protocol frame containing its current local time to all other nodes. Upon receiving this frame, the other nodes set their own local time to the time specified in the synchronization protocol frame. This ensures all nodes have a consistent time base for measuring the switching time. This is an enhancement of 'A method to measure the switching time of an Ethernet ring network. First, the local time of each node in the network is synchronized. When a switching event happens, each node records its own start and end time of the switching. Finally, these recorded times are compared to find the maximum end time and the minimum start time across all nodes. The difference between these maximum and minimum times is then calculated and used as the switching time for the entire Ethernet ring network.''"
5. The method for measuring switching time of an Ethernet ring network according to any one of claims 2 to 4 , wherein the node having a blocked port is a node having a blocked port on a ring protection link, or a node whose port is blocked on a link where a fault occurs.
The node having a blocked port, which sends out the synchronization protocol frame, is either a node with a blocked port on a ring protection link, or a node whose port is blocked due to a fault occurring on its link. This is an enhancement of "To synchronize the local time of each node in the Ethernet ring network, a node with a blocked port sends a synchronization protocol frame containing its current local time to all other nodes. Upon receiving this frame, the other nodes set their own local time to the time specified in the synchronization protocol frame. This ensures all nodes have a consistent time base for measuring the switching time. This is an enhancement of 'A method to measure the switching time of an Ethernet ring network. First, the local time of each node in the network is synchronized. When a switching event happens, each node records its own start and end time of the switching. Finally, these recorded times are compared to find the maximum end time and the minimum start time across all nodes. The difference between these maximum and minimum times is then calculated and used as the switching time for the entire Ethernet ring network.'" Furthermore it enhances "The node with a blocked port sends the synchronization protocol frame in one of two ways: either periodically and continuously to other nodes, or initially according to a first, shorter period, and then continuously according to a second, longer period until the port becomes unblocked." and "In the synchronization process from the previous claim, the first period (used initially for sending synchronization frames) is shorter than the second period (used for continuous sending until the port is unblocked)."
6. The method for measuring switching time of an Ethernet ring network according to claim 2 , wherein the synchronization protocol frame sent by the node having a blocked port further comprises: a local identification number of the node.
The synchronization protocol frame, sent by the node with the blocked port, includes the local identification number of the node, in addition to its local time. This is an enhancement of "To synchronize the local time of each node in the Ethernet ring network, a node with a blocked port sends a synchronization protocol frame containing its current local time to all other nodes. Upon receiving this frame, the other nodes set their own local time to the time specified in the synchronization protocol frame. This ensures all nodes have a consistent time base for measuring the switching time. This is an enhancement of 'A method to measure the switching time of an Ethernet ring network. First, the local time of each node in the network is synchronized. When a switching event happens, each node records its own start and end time of the switching. Finally, these recorded times are compared to find the maximum end time and the minimum start time across all nodes. The difference between these maximum and minimum times is then calculated and used as the switching time for the entire Ethernet ring network.'"
7. The method for measuring switching time of an Ethernet ring network according to claim 2 , wherein the step of said other nodes setting their respective local time as the time in the synchronization protocol frame after receiving the synchronization protocol frame comprises: after receiving the synchronization protocol frame, each of said other nodes judging whether or not there is a blocked port in the node itself; if it is judged that there is not a blocked port, setting the local time as the time in the synchronization protocol frame; if it is judged that there is a blocked port, comparing the local identification number with the identification number in the synchronization protocol frame, if it is judged that the local identification number is smaller than the identification number in the synchronization protocol frame, setting the local time as the time in the synchronization protocol frame; if it is judged that the local identification number is larger than the identification number in the synchronization protocol frame, ending a local time synchronization operation; or if it is judged that the local identification number is larger than the identification number in the synchronization protocol frame, setting the local time as the time in the synchronization protocol frame; if it is judged that the local identification number is smaller than the identification number in the synchronization protocol frame, ending the local time synchronization operation.
Upon receiving the synchronization protocol frame, each node checks if it has a blocked port. If the node doesn't have a blocked port, it sets its local time to the time in the synchronization frame. If it *does* have a blocked port, it compares its own local identification number with the identification number in the synchronization frame. If its own ID is *smaller*, it sets its local time to the time in the frame. If its own ID is *larger*, it either ends the synchronization operation, or alternatively, sets its local time, or ends the synchronization operation, depending on the alternative selected. This builds upon "To synchronize the local time of each node in the Ethernet ring network, a node with a blocked port sends a synchronization protocol frame containing its current local time to all other nodes. Upon receiving this frame, the other nodes set their own local time to the time specified in the synchronization protocol frame. This ensures all nodes have a consistent time base for measuring the switching time. This is an enhancement of 'A method to measure the switching time of an Ethernet ring network. First, the local time of each node in the network is synchronized. When a switching event happens, each node records its own start and end time of the switching. Finally, these recorded times are compared to find the maximum end time and the minimum start time across all nodes. The difference between these maximum and minimum times is then calculated and used as the switching time for the entire Ethernet ring network.'"
8. An apparatus for measuring switching time of an Ethernet ring network, comprising a hardware processer configured to execute following modules: a time synchronization module and a time recording module on each node, and a comparison module and a calculation module at a management system side of the Ethernet ring network, wherein the time synchronization module is configured to synchronize local time of each node in the Ethernet ring network and send a synchronization result to the time recording module on the respective node; the time recording module is configured to start timing, on each node, based on the synchronized time, and when a switching occurs in the Ethernet ring network, record a start time of the switching and an end time of the switching of each node, and send a recorded result to the comparison module at the management system side of the Ethernet ring network; the comparison module is configured to compare, at the management system side of the Ethernet ring network, the recorded result sent by the time recording module of each node, select a maximum end time of the switching and a minimum start time of the switching among all nodes, and send the two selected time values to the calculation module; and the calculation module is configured to compare a difference between the maximum end time of the switching and the minimum start time of the switching sent by the comparison module and take the difference as the switching time of the Ethernet ring network.
The invention is an apparatus to measure Ethernet ring network switching time, comprising a hardware processor executing modules. Each node has a time synchronization and a time recording module. A central management system has a comparison and a calculation module. The time synchronization module synchronizes each node's local time, sending the result to its time recording module. The time recording module uses this synchronized time, and when switching occurs, records start and end times of each node, sending the data to the central comparison module. The comparison module selects the maximum end time and minimum start time, sending them to the calculation module. The calculation module finds the difference, using it as the network switching time.
9. The method for measuring switching time of an Ethernet ring network according to claim 3 , wherein the synchronization protocol frame sent by the node having a blocked port further comprises: a local identification number of the node.
The synchronization protocol frame, sent by the node with the blocked port, includes the local identification number of the node, in addition to its local time. This is an enhancement of "The node with a blocked port sends the synchronization protocol frame in one of two ways: either periodically and continuously to other nodes, or initially according to a first, shorter period, and then continuously according to a second, longer period until the port becomes unblocked. This builds upon 'To synchronize the local time of each node in the Ethernet ring network, a node with a blocked port sends a synchronization protocol frame containing its current local time to all other nodes. Upon receiving this frame, the other nodes set their own local time to the time specified in the synchronization protocol frame. This ensures all nodes have a consistent time base for measuring the switching time. This is an enhancement of 'A method to measure the switching time of an Ethernet ring network. First, the local time of each node in the network is synchronized. When a switching event happens, each node records its own start and end time of the switching. Finally, these recorded times are compared to find the maximum end time and the minimum start time across all nodes. The difference between these maximum and minimum times is then calculated and used as the switching time for the entire Ethernet ring network.''"
10. The method for measuring switching time of an Ethernet ring network according to claim 4 , wherein the synchronization protocol frame sent by the node having a blocked port further comprises: a local identification number of the node.
The synchronization protocol frame, sent by the node with the blocked port, includes the local identification number of the node, in addition to its local time. This is an enhancement of "In the synchronization process from the previous claim, the first period (used initially for sending synchronization frames) is shorter than the second period (used for continuous sending until the port is unblocked). This builds on 'The node with a blocked port sends the synchronization protocol frame in one of two ways: either periodically and continuously to other nodes, or initially according to a first, shorter period, and then continuously according to a second, longer period until the port becomes unblocked. This builds upon 'To synchronize the local time of each node in the Ethernet ring network, a node with a blocked port sends a synchronization protocol frame containing its current local time to all other nodes. Upon receiving this frame, the other nodes set their own local time to the time specified in the synchronization protocol frame. This ensures all nodes have a consistent time base for measuring the switching time. This is an enhancement of 'A method to measure the switching time of an Ethernet ring network. First, the local time of each node in the network is synchronized. When a switching event happens, each node records its own start and end time of the switching. Finally, these recorded times are compared to find the maximum end time and the minimum start time across all nodes. The difference between these maximum and minimum times is then calculated and used as the switching time for the entire Ethernet ring network.''"
11. The method for measuring switching time of an Ethernet ring network according to claim 3 , wherein the step of said other nodes setting their respective local time as the time in the synchronization protocol frame after receiving the synchronization protocol frame comprises: after receiving the synchronization protocol frame, each of said other nodes judging whether or not there is a blocked port in the node itself, if it is judged that there is not a blocked port, setting the local time as the time in the synchronization protocol frame; if it is judged that there is a blocked port, comparing the local identification number with the identification number in the synchronization protocol frame, if it is judged that the local identification number is smaller than the identification number in the synchronization protocol frame, setting the local time as the time in the synchronization protocol frame; if it is judged that the local identification number is larger than the identification number in the synchronization protocol frame, ending a local time synchronization operation; or if it is judged that the local identification number is larger than the identification number in the synchronization protocol frame, setting the local time as the time in the synchronization protocol frame; if it is judged that the local identification number is smaller than the identification number in the synchronization protocol frame, ending the local time synchronization operation.
Upon receiving the synchronization protocol frame, each node checks if it has a blocked port. If the node doesn't have a blocked port, it sets its local time to the time in the synchronization frame. If it *does* have a blocked port, it compares its own local identification number with the identification number in the synchronization frame. If its own ID is *smaller*, it sets its local time to the time in the frame. If its own ID is *larger*, it either ends the synchronization operation, or alternatively, sets its local time, or ends the synchronization operation, depending on the alternative selected. This builds upon "The node with a blocked port sends the synchronization protocol frame in one of two ways: either periodically and continuously to other nodes, or initially according to a first, shorter period, and then continuously according to a second, longer period until the port becomes unblocked. This builds upon 'To synchronize the local time of each node in the Ethernet ring network, a node with a blocked port sends a synchronization protocol frame containing its current local time to all other nodes. Upon receiving this frame, the other nodes set their own local time to the time specified in the synchronization protocol frame. This ensures all nodes have a consistent time base for measuring the switching time. This is an enhancement of 'A method to measure the switching time of an Ethernet ring network. First, the local time of each node in the network is synchronized. When a switching event happens, each node records its own start and end time of the switching. Finally, these recorded times are compared to find the maximum end time and the minimum start time across all nodes. The difference between these maximum and minimum times is then calculated and used as the switching time for the entire Ethernet ring network.''"
12. The method for measuring switching time of an Ethernet ring network according to claim 4 , wherein the step of said other nodes setting their respective local time as the time in the synchronization protocol frame after receiving the synchronization protocol frame comprises: after receiving the synchronization protocol frame, each of said other nodes judging whether or not there is a blocked port in the node itself, if it is judged that there is not a blocked port, setting the local time as the time in the synchronization protocol frame; if it is judged that there is a blocked port, comparing the local identification number with the identification number in the synchronization protocol frame, if it is judged that the local identification number is smaller than the identification number in the synchronization protocol frame, setting the local time as the time in the synchronization protocol frame; if it is judged that the local identification number is larger than the identification number in the synchronization protocol frame, ending a local time synchronization operation; or if it is judged that the local identification number is larger than the identification number in the synchronization protocol frame, setting the local time as the time in the synchronization protocol frame; if it is judged that the local identification number is smaller than the identification number in the synchronization protocol frame, ending the local time synchronization operation.
This invention relates to measuring switching time in Ethernet ring networks, particularly in scenarios where network nodes must synchronize their local clocks to ensure accurate timing for network operations. The problem addressed is the need for precise time synchronization in ring networks, where nodes may have blocked ports due to network failures or reconfigurations, which can disrupt synchronization processes. The method involves a synchronization protocol frame being transmitted through the network. Upon receiving this frame, each node evaluates its own state to determine whether it should update its local time. If a node has no blocked ports, it immediately synchronizes its local time with the time in the received frame. If a node has a blocked port, it compares its local identification number with the identification number in the frame. If the local identification number is smaller, the node updates its local time; if it is larger, the synchronization operation is terminated. This ensures that only nodes with lower priority (smaller identification numbers) update their time when network conditions are unstable, preventing synchronization conflicts. The method improves reliability in Ethernet ring networks by dynamically adjusting time synchronization based on node status and priority, reducing errors caused by blocked ports or misconfigured nodes. This is particularly useful in industrial or telecommunication networks where precise timing is critical for data integrity and network stability.
Unknown
August 5, 2014
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